Apparatus for folding and stacking garment parts

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for assembling stacks of garment parts such as T-shirt sleeves, which stacks of sleeves are adapted to be transported to a sewing station. The apparatus embodies means adapted to receive a hemmed sleeve blank from an automatic sewing machine which is delivered with the hem portion folded over the body of the sleeve blank, then to unfold the same and press the seam. Subsequent to this operation, the sleeve blank may be folded substantially at its mid-point, upon itself, essentially while in motion on a conveyor. Following the folding step the folded, transversely outstretched blank is lifted bodily from the conveyor and placed in inverted position on a stacker until a stack of a given number is formed. Then, means is provided to dump the entire stack by sliding the same off the stacking station, onto a conveyor or the like which delivers the thus stacked, folded sleeves to a sewing station where they may be closed by sewing, prior to final incorporation into the garment itself.

United States Patent [1 1 Adamson 1 APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND STACKING GARMENT PARTS Fletcher D. Adamson, Alexander City, Ala.

[73] Assignee: Russell Mills, Inc., Alexander City,

Ala.

[22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 313,928

[75] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,693,272 11/1928 Elsas et a1 271/83 X 3,684,274 8/1972 Grantham et a1 270/62 3,370,849 2/1968 Martin r 271/68 1,324,437 12/1919 Smith 271/83 3,148,875 9/1964 Jack 270/80 3,669,443 6/1972 Noiles 270/61 R in] 3,794,224 1451 Feb. 26, 1974 Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jennings, Carter &

Thompson [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for assembling stacks of garment parts such as T-shirt sleeves, which stacks of sleeves are adapted to be transported to a sewing station. The apparatus embodies means adapted to receive a hemmed sleeve blank from an automatic sewing machine which is de-' livered with the hem portion folded over the body of the sleeve blank, then to unfold the same and press the seam. Subsequent to this operation, the sleeve blank may be folded substantially at its mid-point, upon itself, essentially while in motion on a conveyor. Following the folding step the folded, transversely outstretched blank is lifted bodily from the conveyor and placed in inverted position on a stacker until a stack of a given number is formed. Then, means is provided to dump the entire stack by sliding the same off the stacking station, onto a conveyor or the like which delivers the thus stacked, folded sleeves to a sewing station where they may be closed by sewing, prior to final incorporation into the garment itself.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR'FOLDING AND STACKING GARMENT PARTS by moving the sleeve blanks along on a conveyor, past an automatic sewing machine and the blanks leave this operation with the hemmed portion folded over the body of the blank. In prior apparatus efforts have been made to' unfold the thus hemmed part, and then to fold the sleeve blanks against themselves so that when delivered to the next sewing operator it is not necessary for him to take the time to fold the blanks, in order to close the sleeve. The foregoing attempts to mechanize this operation have consisted of various devices such as wheel-like members having spokes which lie in a horizontal plane and onto which each individual piece is placed in folded condition, it being the object of such a device that the sewing operator will turn the wheel, manually pick these off one by one and close them with his sewing machine.

My invention has for an object the provision of means automatically to unfold the sewn, hemmed portion of the sleeve, as it leaves the automatic sewing machine and then to deliver the same onto a moving conveyor. Associated with the conveyor is folding mechanism which is adapted, while the part is in motion on its supporting conveyor, to fold the same upon itself, without stopping the motion of the part and after folding the same to release it so that the conveyor continues to transport it. Downstream of the folding device or mechanisms I provide means to physically and bodily lift the thus folded garment part from the conveyor, while the conveyor and part are in motion and to deliver the same, in inverted position from the position on the conveyor to a stacking station. After stacking a predetermined number of the thus folded parts on the station I provide means automatically to tilt the station, permitting the thus assembled, folded stack of parts'to slide off the station onto suitable means such as a conveyor which delivers them'to the next sewing operator.

. I further automate and time the various motions of the compatible with present, known automatic sewing devices for forming 'hems and the like in garment parts such as T-shirt sleeves.

Apparatus illustrating features of my invention is' shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

- FIG. 1 is a fragmental, detail plan view, with certain parts broken away 'and in section; I

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly broken away and in section;

.section 13.

FIG. 3 is a detail fragmental sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrating portions of the means for unfolding the hemmed portion of a garment sleeve as it has been delivered from an automatic sewing machine;

FIG. 4 is a detail, enlarged fragmental view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the folding mechanism; v

FIG. 5 is a detail enlarged fragmental view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the stacking mechanism;

F IG. 6 is a detail fragmental plan view of a part of the unfolding mechanism for the hem of the garment part located at the receiving end of my improved apparatus;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken gen erally along line 9-9 of FIG. 1. 7

Referring now to the drawings for a better. understanding of my invention I show the same as embodying a supporting frame 10 which may be of any desired form but which preferably includes post members 11 and side plates 12.-

Located ahead of the main portion of the apparatus in the unfolding mechanism which I have indicated generally in the drawings by'the numeral 13.

This portion 13 of the apparatus comprises a plurality of tape-like endless conveyor belts l4'which are spaced side by side and which at the rearward end-'(in the sense of flow of the material which is from right to left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2) pass over a roller 16. The

belts pass over a similar roller at the far righthand vend provide the hem as will later appear. The upper flights of the belts 14 are supported on plate-like bed 15 supported in suitable manner from the framework of the The roller 16 is supported-by a shaft 17 and'is driven through a belt 18 by a motor 19. The motor 19 is sup plied with current from a source not shown, in the usual and customary fashion.

Supported over the upper flights 14a of the delivery belts 14 are a pair of hold' down and smoothing members 22. These members are supported. to ride just above the tops of the belts 14 and are held in position by means of cross members 23 fastened in suitable manner to side plates 24 forming a part of the section Located just ahead of the roller 16 is a plate-like member 27 which is adapted to be engaged by the moving garment part G to unfold the'folded edge 26 from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 7. The member 27 comprises essentially a horizontal portion 28 and an upwardly and outwardly directed portion 29.

As indicated in FIG. 7, when the garment piece G moves to the left the bight of the over folded edge26a is engaged by the front ends of the sections 28 and 29, whereupon the folded over portion is unfolded as indicated at 26a, FIG. 7. It will also be noted that during this time the shoes or hold down members 22 are engaging the top of the garment piece G, holding it onto the upper flight 14a of the conveyor belt.

Just to the rear of the member 27 is an upper presser roller 31 supported on a shaft 32 mounted in a bearing block 33. Immediately below the presser roller 31 is a roller 34 mounted for rotation with the'shaft 17. These rollers are so relatively arranged that the seam S of the garment piece G passes between them, thus to be ironed, whereby as the garment piece moves through the apparatus it remains essentially flat.

Secured to the plate and located between the upper flights 14a of the belts 14 are fingers 36 which extend from the delivery end of section 13 to the folding and stacking apparatus now to be described. The function of these fingers is to bridge the gap between the apparatus so as to assure proper delivery of the parts G to the folding and stacking apparatus.

As the pressed garment piece G passes from the section 13 of the apparatus to the folding and stacking section it passes over the supporting fingers 36 and moves onto a moving conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced apart belts 51, the upper flights of which are indicated at 51a. These belts are supported at their forward ends on a roller 52 in turn carried by a shaft 53 mounted in bearings carried by the side plates 12 of the machine. Power for driving the shaft 53 is supplied from shaft 17 by a belt 54.

Mounted to act as a hold down for the garment pieces while on the upper flights 51a is a hold down and guide roller 56. The garment piece G thus comes off the fingers 36, onto the upper flights 51a of the belts 51 and then under the roller 56, moving to the left as shown in the several figures.

As the garment piece G progresses from right to left, for instance FIG. 4, it passes under a light source 57 which is located to reflect a beam of light downwardly through the spaces between the upper flights 51a of the conveyor belts 51. Mounted to receive the beam of light, in the absence of a piece of material G on the conveyor belts, is a photocell 58. The function and relative arrangement of the light source 57 and photocell 58 will be later explained.

. Mounted in suitable bearings in the side plates 12 is another cross shaft 59. Secured non-rotatably to the shaft 59 are a plurality of fingers 61 which are narrow enough to move upwardly through the spaces between the belts. Thus, when the shaft 59 is rotated as will be explained, the fingersmove from the full line position of FIG. 4 to the dotted line position as indicated. In moving upwardly the fingers thusengage the forward portion of the garment part G and move it upwardly to the semi-folded position indicated in FIG. 4.

Pivotally mounted between the side plates 12 as indicated at 62 is an upwardly inclined plate member 63. The angular relationship of the member 63 may be adjusted by a pair of cams 64 pivotally mounted to the respective plates 12 as at 66. The plate-like member 63 may have an upturned portion 67 along one edge thereof.

The shaft 59 carries at one end a gear 68. Mounted beneath the gear is a rack bar 69 in mesh with the gear 68. The rack bar 69 is adaptedto be reciprocated by means of a double acting air cylinder 71, the piston rod 72 of which is connected to the rack bar as indicated in FIG. 1. Thus, when the cylinder 71 is supplied with fluid for actuation in one direction the fingers 61 move from the full line position of FIG. 4 to the dotted line position, thereby effectively folding the leading portion of the garment part G up onto the plate-like member 63. This is illustrated in the dotted line position, FIG. 4.

From what has been described so far it will be seen that the garment parts G are delivered from the section 13 of the apparatus to the main portion thereof, onto the upper flights 51a of the belts 51. When the light beam from the source 57 is interrupted by the passage of the garment portion G, and through suitable delay mechanisms, cylinder 71 is energized by the means presently to be described, thus to move the rack bar to the left as viewed in FIG.- 1, thereby rotating shaft 59 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4, thus bringing the lead section of the garmentpart G to the dotted line position, resting on the plate 63. By quickly moving the fingers upwardly and quickly moving them downwardly, the garment part as a whole never stops its movement inasmuch as the belts 51a continue to move. In other words, by properly timing the upward and downward movement of the fingers 61 relative to the belt speed the parts may be put in the dotted-line position of FIG. 4 without halting the movement of the belt or the part. Furthermore, by suitably timing the delay from the moment of interruption of the light beam between the source 57 and photocell 58, the length of the material ahead of the lower end of the plate 61 may be predetermined. Thus, it is quite possible to fold each of the garment parts G substantially at their midpoints, lengthwise, whereby as the belts 51 continue their motion the parts are redeposited onto the belts neatly folded, at their midpoint as indicated in dotted lines, FIG. 5.

I have found that the angle of inclination of the plate member 63 is quite critical. Thus, with the plate 63 made of stainless steel and'polished, and when handling -shirt sleeves made of cotton, the angle should be approximately 37 from the horizontal. This appears to coincide very nearly with the angle of least repose of the material on the upper surface of the plate 63. In any event, with the belt 5 la traveling at about feet per minute, there is no rumpling, crumpling or distortion of the folded part of the garment part G, when it is laid back onto the oncoming part. What appears to happen is that the reannost part of the garment which is left on the belts is frictionally engaged sufficiently that with the movement of the belts, in combination with the slick surface and the angle at which plate 63 is set, all

cause the neat, accurate folding of the parts on each other as the upper part slides off the plate 63.

As the thus folded garment part progresses leftwardly it approaches the ends of the belts 51 which are supported by a roller 73 carried by cross shaft 74 mounted between the side plates 12 of the apparatus.

Also mounted between the side plates 12 is another shaft 76. The shaft 76 also carries a plurality of fingers 77. As shown in FIG. 5 these fingers are adapted to move from the full line position to the final dotted line position indicated.

The fingers 77 are narrow enough to move vertically upwardly through the spaces between the belts. The object here is to cause the fingers, upon the presence of a garment part G substantially in the dotted line posistacking station to be described.

The shaft 76 carries at one end a gear 78. A rack bar 79 is in engagement with the gear. A double acting air cylinder 81 has its piston rod 82 connected to the rack bar 79 so that upon reciprocation of the rack bar the shaft 76 is rotated to move the fingers from the full line position to the last dotted line position and then back to the full line position, quite quickly.

In order to initiate the movement of the fingers by actuating the air cylinder 81 I provide a photocell 83 which controls the valve mechanisms for the cylinder 81. As illustrated, and similarly to the photocell 58, the photocell 83 projects upwardly through the spaces left between the lower or return flights of an adjacent pair of the belts 51. Unlike the photocell 58, which is shaded by the plate 63, photocell 83 can be operated in response to the absence of ambient light. Thus, and preferably, the passing of the garment piece G above the photocell 83 cuts out the ambient light, causing the cell 83 toconduct, as will be-explained later.

Pivotally mounted on a cross rod 84, mounted between the side plates 12 of the apparatus is a plate 86 constituting a receiving station on which the garment parts G are stacked, as they are delivered by the fingers 77. In detail, the plate 86 may have a pair of brackets 87 depending therefrom and through which the shaft 84 actually passes thus to pivotally support the entire assembly. v

Mounted on top of the plate 86 is an L-shaped member 88 which has a plurality of saw tooth-like cut outs 89 in its vertical leg 91. Furthermore, the angle 88 is slightly out of parallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine as a whole as clearly shown in FIG. 1. That is to say, the lefthandmost end of the member 88 as viewed in FIG. 1 is nearer the transverse center of the plate 86 than is the upper end. The purpose of this will be explained later.

Pivotally connected to one of the depending brackets 87 is a link 92 in turn connected tothe upper end of a piston rod 93 of a double acting air cylinder 94. The air cylinder 94 is pivotally mounted at 96 to a part of the frame of the apparatus and air is supplied, through mechanisms to be described, to the cylinder through flexible hoses 97 and 98.

Considering now the function of the stacking mechanism and the dumping mechanism it will be seen that by suitable timing mechanisms whenever a predetermined'number of garment pieces G has been delivered onto the plate 86, air cylinder 94 is quickly actuated to pivot the entire plate about its pivotpoint or shaft 84, thus causing all of the stacked garment parts to slide downwardly, that is, to the. left, when the lefthand end of the plate 86 is lowered sufficiently. The purpose of the member 88 is to cause the material to slide off the plate 86 in a flat, uncrumpled or unrumpled, substantially regular stack. For reasons'which I do not completely understand, without the member 88, arranged as illustrated in the drawings, the stack of material has a tendency to slide off sidewise so that if it is to be delivered to a conveyor, after leaving the plate 86, it is not properly aligned for movement away from the apparatus. The presence of the plate 88, asstated, causes the entire, stacked bundle of the parts G. to slide off the plate in proper fashion.

' fingers 61 in a direction to move the fingers upwardly,

As will be appreciated all of the mechanisms which require control are controlled automatically in my im-v proved apparatus. That is to say, I provide means automatically to operate the fingers 61 and 77, at the proper time, and also timing mechanisms to cause dumping action of the plate 86 to take place at the proper time. While there may be various forms of controls which would be adequate, in FIG. 8 I illustrate a simplified version of the same for controlling the various motions of my improved apparatus.

Referring particularly to FIG. 8, the passage of a garment part between the light source 57 and photocell 58 initiates a signal to an adjustable time delay'relay indicated diagrammatically at 99. This may be the type of relay which may be manually set in order to determine how much of the leading end of the garment part passes the photocell 58 before the signal sent thereby is in turn impressed through a line 101 onto the solenoid 102 of an air valve 103. The air valve 103 controls the cylinder 71 which as will be recalled is the cylinder for operating gear 69 operatively connected to the foldingfingers 61. In other words, when the adjustable time delay relay 99 sends a signal to solenoid 102, air under pressure from a source 104 is impressed on the cylinder 71 through a line 106, thus to move the rack bar 69 to the left as viewed in FIG. 8, rotating shaft 59 which carries the to fold the garment part. 1

Cylinder 81 is under control of an air valve which is connected to the source of air under pressure indicated at 104. A solenoid 108 controls the vealve 107 so that whenever the photocell 83 sends a signal through line Y 109, in response to the presence thereover of garment part, the valve 107 admits fluid toline 111, moving rack bar. 79'to the right as viewed in FIG. 8, rotating shaft 76 counterclockwise. This moves the fingers 77 upwardly, thus to deposit the garment part on the receiving plate 86. As will be understood, both of the valves 103. and 107 automatically return to a position to admit fluid to the opposite ends of their respective cylinders, thus to return the parts to the positions shown. Therefore, both of the sets of fingers are moved quickly to their respective garment part folding and discharge positions and immediately withdrawn topositions beneath the upper flights 51a of the beltsSl.

The cylinder 94 is under control of an air valve 112 powered by a solenoid 113. The solenoid 113 is under control of a time delay relay 114 in series with a counter 116. The counter receives the signal through a line 117 each time the photocell 83 conducts and is of the type to totalize up to a given number of counts prior to energizing the time delay relay 114. In practice two dozen garmentparts may pass over the photocell 83, whereby that number would be stacked on the receiving plate 86, before the counter 116 sends a signal to the relay 114 which in turn sends a signal to the solenoid 113 of valve 112. Therefore, after a predetermined number of parts have been placed on the plate 86 valve 112 places fluid in the upper nd f yl nd r 94 through a line 118, thus to move the plate 86 to dumping position so that the 'parts thereon slide off the same. In order to assure that the parts have time to slide off, time delay 1 14 holds the solenoid 1 13 energized for a fraction of a second before releasing the same so that the valve 112 can return the parts to the position of FIG. 8 by applying air under pressure through the line 119.

Reverting again to FIGS. 4 and 5, I have found that I the efficiency of the fingers 61 and 71, insofar as handling the garment parts are concerned, may be enhanced by coating them with a material to increase the frictional grip between the fingers and the garment part. A suitable material is sold by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company under its product No. Y- 9167, and is a form of flock coated tape. In other words, the respective fingers 77 and 61 are wrapped on their upper, workingsurfaces with this material which comes with an adhesive on its back, and this effectively increases the pick-up ability of the fingers and prevents the parts from sliding relative to the fingers.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised an improved apparatus which is effective to fold and remove folded garment parts from the apparatus,

quickly, accurately and in a continuous, mass production manner. While I have laid particular stress on both folding and stacking, it will be seen that by deenergizing the folding portion of the apparatus the same may be used simply to stack or collate a number of-parts on the plate 86. My improved apparatus thus delivers to a subsequent sewing operator parts which are neatly stacked or, preferably, neatly folded and stacked,.eliminating the time required to align the edges prior to closing parts such as sleeves for T-shirts and the like.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for folding garment parts such as T- shirt sleeves comprising:

a. a generally horizontal conveyor having receiving and discharge ends,

b. means to deliver a garment part to the receiving end of the conveyor,

c. means intermediate the ends of the conveyor to fold a downstream portion of the garment part upwardly and in overlying relation to an upstream portion thereof while the part is in motion on the conveyor, whereby continued movement of the garment part causes the thus folded portion to fall downwardly on the upstream portion, and

d. meansto remove the thus folded garment part from the conveyor.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means to fold the downstream portion of the garment part has associated therewith adjustable control means for determining the position along the length of said garment where said fold is to take place.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which there is means associated with said receiving station effective to discharge therefrom said garment parts after a predetermined number of said garment part has been placed on the station.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is means effective to press a portion of the garment part such as a seam therein prior to delivery of the garment 8 part to the conveyor, whereby the part lies substantially flat on the conveyor.

5. Apparatus as defined .in claim 1 in which there is a stationary, plate-like'support member onto which said downstream portion of said garment part is placed, said support member being inclined in the direction of movement of the garment part.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the angle of least repose of thedownstream end of said downstream garment part placed on said support member is such that continued movement of the upstream portion of said garment part permits said folded downstream part to slide off said plate-like support member and form an even layer with the upstream portion.

7. In apparatus for folding and stacking garment parts such as T-shirt sleeves comprising:

a. a generally horizontal conveyor having receiving and discharge ends,

b. means to feed the garment part to the receiving end of the conveyor,

c. means intermediate the ends of the conveyor to fold the downstream portion of the garment part upwardly and in overlying relation to an upstream portion of the same garment part while the garment part is in motion on the conveyor, whereby continued movement of the garment part permits the thus folded portion thereof to fall downwardly and lie on top of the upstream portion,

d. means associated with the conveyor to lift the garment part from the moving conveyor by engaging lower surfaces thereof,

e. a receiving station to which said folded garment part is to be delivered, and

. f. means to invert said garment part while en route from the conveyor to the receiving station whereby said garment part is placed on said receiving station in inverted position relative to the way it lies on the conveyor.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the conveyor comprises a plurality of individual, spaced apart belts, the upper flights of which carry the garment part, said folding mechanism comprising a plurality of fingers disposed to move from a position beneath ,the upper flights of the belts to a position above the same, and said .means to lift the folded garment part comprising a plurality of fingers which normally lie below the upper flights of said belts and which are movable upwardly therefrom, through spaces between said belts.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which there is means responsive to the presence of an unfolded garment part to actuate said folding apparatus, and in which there is means operatively associated with said apparatus to actuate said lifting apparatus, thus to lift the garment part from the conveyor upon the presence of a garment part in position to be lifted.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said means controlling said lifting and folding apparatus are light sensitive photocells at least one of which is operatively connected to its lifting and folding apparatus to activate the same in the absence of ambient light. 

1. In apparatus for folding garment parts such as T-shirt sleeves comprising: a. a generally horizontal conveyor having receiving and discharge ends, b. means to deliver a garment part to the receiving end of the conveyor, c. means intermediate the ends of the conveyor to fold a downstream portion of the garment part upwardly and in overlying relation to an upstream portion thereof while the part is in motion on the conveyor, whereby continued movement of the garment part causes the thus folded portion to fall downwardly on the upstream portion, and d. means to remove the thus folded garment part from the conveyor.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means to fold the downstream portion of the garment part has associated therewith adjustable control means for determining the position along the length of said garment where said fold is to take place.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which there is means associated with said receiving station effective to discharge therefrom said garment parts after a predetermined number of said garment part has been placed on the station.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is means effective to press a portion of the garment part such as a seam therein prior to delivery of the garment part to the conveyor, whereby the part lies substantially flat on the conveyor.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is a stationary, plate-like support member onto which said downstream portion of said garment part is placed, said support member being inclined in the direction of movement of the garment part.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the angle of least repose of the downstream end of said downstream garment part placed on said support member is such that continued movement of the upstream portion of said garment part permits said folded downstream part to slide off said plate-like support member and form an even layer with the upstream portion.
 7. In apparatus for folding and stacking garment parts such as T-shirt sleeves comprising: a. a generally horizontal conveyor having receiving and discharge ends, b. means to feed the garment part to the receiving end of the conveyor, c. means intermediate the ends of the conveyor to fold the downstream portion of the garment part upwardly and in overlying relation to an upstream portion of the same garment part while the garment part is in motion on the conveyor, whereby continued movement of the garment part permits the thus folded portion thereof to fall downwardly and lie on top of the upstream portion, d. means associated with the conveyor to lift the garment part from the moving conveyor by engaging lower surfaces thereof, e. a receiving station to which said folded garment part is to be delivered, and f. means to invert said garment part while en route from the conveyor to the receiving station whereby said garment part is placed on said receiving station in inverted position relative to the way it lies on the conveyor.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the conveyor comprises a plurality of individual, spaced apart belts, the upper flights of which carry the garment part, said folding mechanism comprising a plurality of fingers disposed to move from a position beneath the upper flights of the belts to a position above the same, and said means to lift the folded garment part comprising a plurality of fingers which normally lie below the upper flights of said belts and which are movable upwardly therefrom, through spaces between said belts.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which there is means responsive to the presence of an unfolded garment part to actuate said folding apparatus, and in which there is means operatively associated with said apparatus to actuate said lifting apparatus, thus to lift the garmEnt part from the conveyor upon the presence of a garment part in position to be lifted.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said means controlling said lifting and folding apparatus are light sensitive photocells at least one of which is operatively connected to its lifting and folding apparatus to activate the same in the absence of ambient light. 